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| Ice formation with 1 mile left |
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| Ice formation with 25 miles left |
Picture, it. New Hampshire, April 2026. State number 47. Well actually it was the 9th state to join the United States, but for me it checks off #47. I registered for one in November, but due to a stress fracture, I had to do a redo this past April. So the Cheap Marathon in Windham it was. A new stress fracture free me!
It was in early April and winter was still hanging on a bit. Looking back as some photos of the ice on the course is really nice memory as I sit in the 96 degree heat and humidity of southwest Florida in August. The race was an out-and-back times 2 along a rail trail that went from Windham to Derry. The out and backs always play with my head because it just makes it seem longer for some reason. Maybe it's because you keep passing the place where you see a mile marker for mile 21, but you still have to go down and back again before you get there. Also to add an additional mind-f@#$, this race counted down the miles instead of counting up. Actually, I'm not sure what a prefer. Maybe a count down is better? Either way you count, it still hurts. :)
The course, while repetitive, was beautiful and shaded for when the sun came out. The temperature was actually perfect running weather and there was no rain during the race, so conditions were great. It didn't really help me run faster, but it made it a little less painful.
So after running an incredibly mediocre time I was rewarded with this lovely finisher ribbon at the end. There is a reason they call it the Cheap Marathon (despite the fact that the entry fee wasn't all that cheap). I will admit it looks pretty sad on my medal-hanging ladder, but it still hangs among them, silent, with no jingle as it swings against the others.
I stayed in Manchester, which was only a short drive from the course, but seemed to have better options for hotels and restaurants than the other towns in the area. New Hampshire is a great spot for oysters, so as usual I had to partake of these. This was after I stopped at a local brewery, Harpoon Brewery. They had good beers and a really great homemade French onion dip with potato chips. Brought me back to a lot of midwestern cookouts, but minus the Ruffles chips and the store bought dip.
Also before I found my way to oysters, I walked around downtown Manchester and took in some of the murals around town. To be honest, I couldn't find much else to do there on the weekend and it was also a bit rainy. But was a good way to walk off some of the post-race soreness.
Ok, finally time for oysters. I went to a place called The Foundry and for some reason their espresso martini was calling to me. Maybe it was because when I was supposed to do my original November marathon, my friend Genevieve and I went to Maine instead and at all the oysters and drank all the espresso martinis. Although we didn't enjoy these two things together. And I know you're thinking that these things don't go together. But I don't care. I wanted them and both were delicious. So there.
Overall, I enjoyed the course, the food and the town. For a short time. It's a beautiful state, and I'm sure the prime time to go is during the fall foliage. But appreciated its beauty in April still. Only Wyoming, New Mexico and Hawaii remain. Jackson Hole is coming up in September, followed by Albuquerque in October and then Maui in April 2027. Then I can move on from the early 2000s blog writing into 2026/27. But it has been a good way to chronicle this journey that started in fall of 2009. Hoping to get through the rest as planned. Cross your fingers!
